(OT) Ethics question

Sorry, I don't usually post this sort of thing on BBS's but this one is quite thought interesting:

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This test only has one question, but it's a very important one.
Please don't answer it without giving it some serious thought. By giving an honest answer you will learn much about yourself, your values and your sense of ethical behaviour.
The test features an unlikely, completely fictional situation where you will have to make a decision one way or the other. Remember that your answer needs to be honest, yet spontaneous.

You're a professional photographer on the beach at Brighton in the midst of a raging hurricane. Huge waves, killer winds, chaos all around. The situation seems hopeless. You're trying to shoot photos of this monumental event. There are houses and people floating around you, disappearing into the water. Nature is displaying all it’s destructive power and is ripping everything away with it.

Suddenly you see a man in the water, fighting for his life, trying not to be swept away by the swirling water and mud. You move closer. The man looks familiar. Suddenly you know who it is, it's Tony Blair! You notice that the raging waters are about to take him away, forever. You have two options. You can save the life of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, leader of our great nation, or you can take the best photo of your life, a sure-fire Pulitzer prize winner one of the Prime Minister going to his demise.

Now here's the question. PLEASE GIVE AN HONEST ANSWER!


Would you select colour film, or go with the simplicity of classic black and white?

Would you select colour film, or go with the simplicity of classic black and white?

That's a silly question, any professional photographer would have a camera with each film loaded...

Well, you should be able to manipulate the color into good black and white, so....

Argh, where did I see this before (a month or two ago?) !?

[thinking to myself as I read the topic] And Old Testament ethics question... cool.[/thinking to self]

And Old Testament ethics question... cool.

Ah, definitely color then. I saw "The Ten Commandments", and it was in color.

I saw "The Ten Commandments", and it was in color.

I always thought the Ten Commandments were pretty black-and-white.

I always thought the Ten Commandments were pretty black-and-white.

Heh. Ba-DUM.

You'd think....

I'd let his ass drown.

Uh. You need to read the question more carefully.

I'd select colour & take the shot.

Then I'd save his life and rescue the man from being swept away & drowning.

Hey, I'm no New Labour Blair worshipper, in fact I think he's done the UK a great disservice along the lines of Neville Chamberlain 65 or so years ago, but history will be the judge of that.

But, the guy is in trouble and he needs to be rescued.

Besides a photo of you rescuing Blair from certain death will be received by just about everyone far better than if you had taken an "about to drown" shot.

No-one will thank you for being there and doing nothing!

(Thats because some might have wanted you to have rescued him but others will have wanted you to have pushed him under... )

...and in any case, regardless of all the above, rescuing the man is simply the right thing to do regardless of who he is or what he has done.

I desperately wanted to link to The Onion's classic 9/11 piece, "God Angrily Clarifies 'Don't Kill' Rule," but now that requires a subscription.